Task #8: DRAFTING THE FIRST PART OF YOUR PLAY

Now that you have come up with a germinal idea, developed a time, place, and action, created characters, and experimented with a dialectic dialogue you are well prepared to draft your play. Use your scenario as a guide. Realize what action you are creating and set your characters toward their goals.

Follow a few fundamental techniques by establishing through dialogue the time and place of the action, the fundamental nature of the characters, and the dramatic situation. Once these elements are in place, have an action that propels the characters within the situation into action. With these elements of craftsmanship, a dramatic question arises and you have engaged the interest of your audience.

Now that you are writing the words, express character thought. Imagine how each character would respond to the dramatic situation, what they might do, and what they would say. The more accurately you express each character's thought, the more appropriate your language becomes. Usually, beginning playwrights are better at expressing the thoughts of the character that is most like themselves or the one that they favor in the action. However, as an objective observer of human behavior and an artistic imitator of life, think as each character would think and use the language most appropriate for that character. Using the appropriate character voice for each character gives your play variety and human interest.

Once you have drafted the scenes, read your play aloud and act it out. The words should flow smoothly and musically, and express the passion of the character. Listen carefully for words that do not flow easily, seem inappropriate, or are passionless. Rely on your ear, be honest with yourself, and rewrite.

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